Family planning has an important role to play in reducing poverty. It allows women and women to avoid unplanned pregnancies, decide when and how many children to have. Having the ability to control the size of ones family usually means a couple will have the resources to better support their children.
In the Philippines there are around 6 million women with what's called an "unmet need" for family planning — they are fertile, sexually active, want to delay the next child or do not want any more children, and are not using any form of contraception.
Read More: Planned Parenthood: What Will Happen if Congress Slashes Its Funding
Without the ability to control their desired family size, there is a high rate of unintended pregnancies among Filipino women. Abortion is illegal, meaning women who seek them face unsafe procedures. Around 1,000 women die from complications every year, and many of them are poor, young and rural women.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced a radical new plan to achieve "zero unmet need for family planning." He is ordering government agencies to give free contraceptives to all women who are unable to obtain it.
Out of the 6 million women, the 2 million women who have been identified as being poor will be given priority and should receive contraception by 2018.
Philippines to offer free contraception to millions of women living in poverty https://t.co/xQoxjJ5aWs
— The Independent (@Independent) January 12, 2017
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ernesto Pernia said without the new plan the Philippines would be "unable to meet our poverty reduction target."
The government is aiming to reduce poverty in the country from 21.6% in 2015 to 14% or 13% by 2022.
Read More: The Number of Women Worldwide Using Contraception Is on the Rise
By enabling women to have the number of children they want, population (now at 104 million) growth will also be reduced to 1.4% by 2022.
As part of the new modern family plan, sexual education classes will also be introduced into schools.
In the Asia-Pacific, the Philippines has the highest rate of teen pregnancy with 10% of 15-year-old to 19-year-old Filipino women either pregnant or already a mother. Teen mothers are at a disadvantage as they are more likely to drop out of school which impacts on their future opportunities and their financial status. There is also more health risks to the babies and children.
How the Philippines became the country in Asia with the highest rates of teen pregnancy: we follow one 15 year old on her 3rd pregnancy. pic.twitter.com/KzcoFRwPxg
— Women and Girls Hub (@womengirlshub) November 29, 2016
With this new program, free contraceptives will be available to couples who were previously unable to access it, they will be given the power to decide the amount of children they want and live happy healthy lives.